Truth & Treason

by Mike McGranaghan

Truth & Treason is one of those movies where all the German characters distractingly have British accents. I’m just going to toss that out there right away because it’s the only real negative thing I have to say about this otherwise stunning historical drama. Director Matt Whitaker tells the true story of Helmuth Hübener, a German teen whose courage we should all take a cue from right about now.

Helmuth (Ewan Horrocks) is only 16 years old but already recognizes how scary Adolf Hitler’s influence is. Many adults around him either support Hitler or acquiesce to the Nazi regime. When his pastor says “Heil Hitler” from the pulpit and puts a sign on the church door forbidding Jews from entering, Helmuth decides he’s had enough. The teen uses his writing skills to anonymously pen anti-war leaflets that speak out against the propaganda that’s increasingly pervading his country, then recruits two friends – Rudi Wobbe (Daf Thomas) and Karl-Heinz Schnibbe (Ferdinand McKay) - to help spread them around Hamburg. They stick them in mailboxes, on public bulletin boards, and on car windshields. A police investigator, Erwin Mussener (Rupert Evans), is determined to find out who’s responsible.

The film adeptly conveys Helmuth’s sense of optimism. At first, his friends think there’s no possibility his plan will work. Then they come around to his way of thinking, which is that if people can get accurate information, they’ll have no option but to open their eyes. To that end, he relies on “seditious” foreign radio news broadcasts as the basis for his leaflets. He’s a front-line warrior against fake news. That faith-fueled dedication to truth in the face of endless misinformation is inspiring.

Things take a darker turn in the second half as Mussener edges closer. At this point, the story shifts, focusing on whether Helmuth will maintain his dedication to the mission, even if it means potentially harsh legal repercussions. It spoils nothing to say that he does; after all, there wouldn’t be a movie if he caved. The pressure put on him proves frightening, as it forces you to think about whether you would have his fortitude under the circumstances. I cannot imagine any viewer being unmoved by how far Helmuth is willing to go.

Truth & Treason has moments that are powerfully dramatic and others that are almost unbearably tense. The film imparts an important message – namely, that standing up for facts is essential, especially when fascism is beginning to take root. For many around Helmuth, being a “good German” is the safe and easy choice. It’s also the choice that opens the door further for the Nazi movement to grow. In a world that seems to become scarier/more extreme by the day, that message is one we can all benefit from hearing.

Across the board, the performances are strong, and the artistic design realistically plunges you into the era. Everything about the production indicates the filmmakers truly cared about telling Helmuth Hübener’s story. You’ll even forgive those pesky British accents. From the opening Angel Studios logo to the end credit scrawl, Truth & Treason proves to be both riveting and relevant.

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